Endocrine and diabetes research

Lead author for several observational research projects investigating whether endocrine dysfunction and impairments in glucose metabolism interact with the recovery of medical inpatients, and whether or not such dysfunction and impairments can be prevented.

Using our large clinical databases, we studied the effects of novel insulin treatment algorithms on glucose control and outcomes of medical inpatients. We also studied the association of hormonal disturbances (thyroid hormones, IGF1 and growth hormone, sex hormones) and patient outcomes and found different hormones to be associated with adverse clinical outcome. We then asked the question whether hormone levels can provide prognostic and/or diagnostic information to better understand the course of medical disease. Further, we ask the question whether hormonal treatment may improve outcomes, which has been found for some but not all hormones. In collaboration with physicians from neurosurgery, we studied the diagnostic value of pro-vasopressin (copeptin, the stable peptide of the vasopressin precursor) for early diagnosis of diabetes insipidus.